Thermal transfer recording device

Abstract

A thermal transfer recording device in which a gap is provided between a layer of a transfer dye and an object of transfer recording and in which the transfer dye is supplied to a transfer section and subsequently vaporized by heating so as to be transferred onto the object of transfer recording wherein, with the density of the transfer dye ρ, the surface tension of the transfer dye γ and with the period of heating ω, a unit width d of a spatial structure of the transfer section is given by 0.8nπ(γ/ρω.sup.2).sup.1/3 <.sup.2 d<1.2nπ(γ/ρω 2 ) 1/3 where n is a positive integer. With the present thermal transfer recording device, a high-quality color image can be produced easily.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A thermal transfer recording device comprising: a dye container including a bottom wall and an opposed top wall with a transfer opening having a dye-receiving cavity defined therein and a transfer section in said dye-receiving cavity adjacent and aligned with said transfer opening, a molten vaporizable transfer dye composition disposed in said dye-receiving cavity and a surface wave suppressing structure comprising a plurality of upstanding pillars having a square cross-section arranged in an array of equally spaced columns and rows defined in said transfer section within the area circumscribed by the transfer opening adjacent to the transfer opening and configured to substantially suppress any surface wave generated on vaporizing transfer dye in the transfer section.   
     
     
       2. A thermal transfer recording device as defined in claim 1, wherein said dye container comprises glass. 
     
     
       3. A thermal transfer recording device as defined in claim 1, wherein a surface of a first pillar is spaced from an adjacent surface of an adjacent second pillar by a spacing d, wherein d may vary from about 0.8d to about 1.2d and d=1/4 n×λ/2, wherein n is a positive odd integer and λ is the wavelength of a surface wave generated by vaporizing transfer dye in the transfer section. 
     
     
       4. A thermal transfer recording device as defined in claim 1, wherein a surface of a first pillar is spaced from an adjacent surface of an adjacent second pillar by a spacing, d, wherein   0.8nπ(γ/ρω.sup.2).sup.1/3 <2d<1.2nπ(dγ/ρω.sup.2).sup.1/3     wherein ρ is the density of the transfer dye, γ is the surface tension of the transfer dye, ω is the heating period and n is a positive odd integer.   
     
     
       5. A thermal transfer recording device as defined in claim 1, wherein transfer dye is vaporized in said transfer section by laser light transmitted through the dye container opposite said transfer opening. 
     
     
       6. A thermal transfer recording device as defined in claim 1, wherein transfer dye is vaporized in said transfer section by a thermal head provided in said dye container opposite said transfer opening. 
     
     
       7. A thermal transfer recording device as defined in claim 1, wherein said vaporizable transfer dye composition comprises a mixture of a vaporizable transfer dye and a laser light absorber. 
     
     
       8. A thermal transfer recording device as defined in claim 1, wherein each upstanding pillar has a top surface and has a height dimension such that the top surfaces of the upstanding pillars are disposed at the transfer opening in the area circumscribed by the transfer opening. 
     
     
       9. A thermal transfer recording device comprising: a dye container including a top wall with a transfer opening having a dye-receiving cavity defined therein and a transfer section in said dye-receiving cavity adjacent and aligned with said transfer opening, a spacer member peripherally disposed about the transfer opening and projecting upwardly from the top wall for providing a transfer gap between said transfer opening and a surface of a printing substrate on which a thermal transfer image is to be recorded, a molten vaporizable transfer dye composition disposed in said dye-receiving cavity and a surface wave suppressing structure comprising a plurality of upstanding pillars having a square cross-section section arranged in an array of equally-spaced columns and rows defined in said transfer section within the area circumscribed by the transfer opening adjacent to the transfer opening configured to substantially suppress any surface wave generated on vaporizing transfer dye in the transfer section.   
     
     
       10. A thermal transfer recording device comprising: a dye container including a top wall with a transfer opening having a dye-receiving cavity defined therein and a transfer section in said dye-receiving cavity adjacent and aligned with said transfer opening, a spacer member peripherally disposed about the transfer opening and projecting upwardly from the top wall for providing a transfer gap between said transfer opening and a surface of a printing substrate on which a thermal transfer image is to be recorded, a molten vaporizable transfer dye composition disposed in said dye-receiving cavity and a surface wave suppressing structure comprising a groove recess defined in said dye container opposite said transfer opening and in registration therewith having a depth dimension and a width dimension configured to substantially suppress any surface wave generated on vaporizing transfer dye in the transfer section.   
     
     
       11. A thermal transfer recording device comprising: a dye container including a top wall with a transfer opening having a dye-receiving cavity defined therein and a transfer section in said dye-receiving cavity adjacent and aligned with said transfer opening, a molten vaporizable transfer dye composition disposed in said dye-receiving cavity and a surface wave suppressing structure comprising a plurality of upstanding pillars provided within the area circumscribed by the transfer opening adjacent to the transfer opening configured to substantially suppress any surface wave generated on vaporizing transfer dye in the transfer section. 
     
     
       12. A thermal transfer recording device as defined in claim 11, wherein said dye container comprises glass. 
     
     
       13. A thermal transfer recording device as defined in claim 11, wherein said surface wave suppressing structure comprises a plurality of upstanding pillars having a square cross-section arranged in an array of equally-spaced columns and rows. 
     
     
       14. A thermal transfer recording device as defined in claim 13, wherein a surface of a first pillar is spaced from an adjacent surface of an adjacent second pillar by a spacing d, wherein d may vary from about 0.8d to about 1.2d and d=1/4 n×λ/2, wherein n is a positive odd integer and λ is the wavelength of a surface wave generated by vaporizing transfer dye in the transfer section. 
     
     
       15. A thermal transfer recording device as defined in claim 13, wherein a surface of a first pillar is spaced from an adjacent surface of an adjacent second pillar by a spacing, d, wherein   0.8nπ(γ/ρω.sup.2).sup.1/3 <2d<1.2nπ(dγ/ρω.sup.2).sup.1/3     wherein ρ is the density of the transfer dye, γ is the surface tension of the transfer dye, ω is the heating period and n is a positive odd integer.   
     
     
       16. A thermal transfer recording device as defined in claim 11, wherein transfer dye is vaporized in said transfer section by laser light transmitted through the dye container opposite said transfer opening. 
     
     
       17. A thermal transfer recording device as defined in claim 11, wherein transfer dye is vaporized in said transfer section by a thermal head provided in said dye container opposite said transfer opening. 
     
     
       18. A thermal transfer recording device as defined in claim 11, wherein said vaporizable transfer dye composition comprises a mixture of a vaporizable transfer dye and a laser light absorber.